In this Article

• What is Lyme disease? What causes Lyme disease?
• What is the history of Lyme disease?
• What are symptoms and signs of Lyme disease?
• How is Lyme disease diagnosed?
• What is the treatment for Lyme disease?
• How can Lyme disease be prevented? Is there a vaccine?
• Lyme Disease At A Glance
• Lyme Disease - Slideshow
• Patient Discussions: Lyme Disease - How Was Diagnosis Established
• Lyme Disease Glossary
• Lyme Disease Index

How can Lyme disease be prevented? Is there a vaccine?

Because Lyme disease is transmitted by ticks attaching to the body, it is important to use tick-bite avoidance techniques when visiting known tick areas. Spraying insect repellant containing DEET onto exposed skin can help. Wearing long pants tucked into boots and long sleeves can protect the skin. Clothing, children, and pets should be examined for ticks. Ticks can be removed gently with tweezers and saved in a jar for later identification. Bathing the skin and scalp and washing clothing upon returning home might prevent the bite and transmission of the disease.

Vaccines were formerly on the market; however, as of Feb. 25, 2002, the manufacturer announced that the LYMErix™ Lyme disease vaccine will no longer be commercially available. Further studies of vaccines are needed. For now, ideal prevention focuses on the recommendations of the preceding paragraph.

Lyme Disease At A Glance

• Lyme disease is a bacterial illness that is spread by tick bites.
• Lyme disease can affect the skin, joints, heart, and the nervous system.
• Lyme disease occurs in phases -- the early phase beginning at the site of the tick bite with an expanding ring of redness.
• Lyme disease is diagnosed based on the patient's clinical signs of illness and the detection of Lyme antibodies in the blood.
• Lyme disease is treated with antibiotics.

For more information about Lyme disease, please visit the following site:

American Lyme Disease Foundation (http://www.aldf.com)
American Lyme Disease Foundation, Inc.
Mill Pond Offices
293 Route 100, Suite 204
Somers, New York 10589
800-876-LYME

or contact:

Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
404-332-4555

References:

Clinical Primer of Rheumatology, Lippincott Williams & Wilkens, edited by William Koopman, et. al., 2003.

Kelley's Textbook of Rheumatology, W B Saunders Co, edited by Shaun Ruddy, et al., 2000.
New England Journal of Medicine 2006;354:2794-2801.

Lyme Disease - How Was Diagnosis Established

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